Temporary Car Insurance - Why and How?

Most every state requires auto insurance that at least covers liabilities for injuries and property damage done to others. This means that if you own a car and plan on driving it, you better get it insured. However, even if you have a typical 6-month auto policy, there are still situations where temporary car insurance is necessary.

So, what are these reasons you ask? Here are a few of the reasons for a short-term auto insurance policy:

• You are taking your cousins car to him across the country
• You are looking after your neighbors car while they are on an extended vacation
• After buying a new car, you haven't decided on permanent insurance and need to drive it off the lot
• You are using a co-workers car for an business trip

How to find short-term car insurance

If you find yourself in one of the situations above there is no shortage of options on how to obtain a temporary auto policy. The internet is full of short-term car insurance quote engines and you can also get quotes directly from an insurance companies' website. Allstate, State Farm, Geico, and Progressive all write temporary policies, along with the majority of smaller auto insurers. If you are shopping for a new vehicle and find your dream car during a one-day sale, there is a good chance that the dealership will have an insurance broker available to write you a temporary policy.

Things to Consider

Because short-term auto policies tend to cover 2- or 4-week time frames and are often needed with a quick turnaround, premium rates usually run much higher than normal 6-month policies. That being said, if you know of a situation where you will be needing temporary coverage, internet searches and quote engines make it fast and easy to find cheap auto insurance quotes that fit your needs.

So, now you know how and why you may need to look for a short-term car insurance policy, but the best rule of thumb, even when you are covered, is to drive safe!